Terry Fell

Terry Fell (May 13, 1921 – April 4, 2007) was an American country musician.

Terry Fell
Born(1921-05-13)May 13, 1921
Dora, Alabama
DiedApril 4, 2007(2007-04-04) (aged 85)
Madison, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • singer
  • songwriter
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
Years active1937–1952
Labels

Biography

Childhood and adolescence

Fell was born in Dora, Alabama on May 13, 1921, and got his first guitar at the age of nine. Later, he learned mandolin and took singing lessons. When he was 13 years old, his father died; three years later, he moved alone to California, where he spent some time in a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps. After he briefly lived in Alabama again, Fell and his mother moved to the US West Coast. There, he began playing in 1943 as bassist for Merl Lindsay.

Musical career

Fell started his record career in 1945 as a member of Billy Hughes' band, Pals of The Pecos. His first record was with Hughes on the Fargo label. He began his solo career with Memo, then Courtney, 4 Star, and Gilt-Edge Records, although none of his releases became hits there.

During his first session for RCA in Hollywood (1954), he recorded a song that would become a hit. Although the A-side, "Don't Drop It", was underplayed, the B-side, "Truck Drivin Man", became a classic, especially in the trucker country-music scene. In 1955, he made a guest appearance on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee.

Fell remained with RCA for the following two years; however, he never produced a single with the same success. RCA extended his contract in 1956.

In 1958, he recorded some sides for Lode records. One of them, released under the name "Johnny Valentine," was a song he wrote called "Sandy" which became a No. 15 pop hit for Larry Hall in 1960.

In 1959, he began military service in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Germany. Along with Elvis Presley, who was at the same time a G.I. stationed in West Germany, he wrote the song "Mississippi River". The single was never released, but the rights were later sold for $30,000 in 1996.

Due to the lack of success and health problems, his career fell short. Later, for a short time, he managed country star Buck Owens and wrote a song in 1961 with Bobby Edwards titled "You're The Reason". In 1962, Fell moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was a songwriter for various publishing companies until he retired. Published in 1993 with Bear Family Records, the album Truck Drivin Man was released with his collected RCA works. Terry Gordon noted that it was discontinued in 1998, but revised/reissued again. Because of his achievements in country music, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Fell died on April 4, 2007, in Madison, Tennessee.

Discography

He wrote and recorded a novelty record on the Lode label under the name Brother George Underbrush, called "Green Garden Hose". It was divided into two parts, one on each side.[1] He later released a cassette on Lode that contained several more of his strange musings.

Singles

All of the Memo, 4 Star, Gilt-Edge, and "X"/RCA singles were published under the name 'Terry Fell & The Fellers'.

Year Titles Part # Notes/Comments
Fargo Records
1945Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More1112as 'Terry Fell & His Red River Rangers'
Memo Records
1946I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone)3001
1946Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue)3002
1946There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here3003
1946Mom I'm Coming Home // I'm Glad That It's All Over Now3004
Courtney Records
1946Stop Your Flirting Little Girl // Texas a La Mode (instrumental)103as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners'
1946Ramblin' Oakie // Steeling the Blues (instrumental)104with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946Please My Darling, Think of Me // You Are Tearing My Poor Paper Heart115as 'Terry Fell & His Seven Southerners'
1946Why Should I Feel So Blue // I'm Sorry We Have To Part116with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946Please Tell Me Why // Waiting For a Love Untrue136with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
1946That Naggin' Wife of Mine // Double Crossing Mama (v: Kenny Williams)137with 'Leodie Jackson & His Western Swingsters'
Four Star Records
1947Paper Heart // You Don't Want Me Any More (reissue)1160
1947I've Done All I Know To Do // You Ran Around (While I Was Gone) (reissue)1161
1947You Are My Sunshine // Will There Be a Light in Your Window1162
1947Rainbow at Midnight // Guess I'm Better Off Without You1163
1948There's a Gold Moon Shining (On a Blue, Blue Heart) // You're Not Wanted Here (reissue)1206
1948Napanee // Little By Little1211
1948Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart1212
1950Snow Deer // With Another in Your Heart (reissue)1426
Gilt-Edge Records
1952Yesterday // Dreamers Paradise5071
1953Fireball Boogie // I Can Hear You Clucking5076
1953Hillbilly Impersonations (Twelve Famous Singers) // Smoking Cornsilks5084
"X" Records (subsidiary of RCA Victor)
1954Don't Drop It // Truck Driving Man4X-0010
1954Let's Stay Together Till After Christmas // We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo4X-0069
1955You Don't Give a Hang About Me // Get Aboard My Wagon4X-0078
1955Mississippi River Shuffle / He's in Love With You4X-0114
1955I'm Hot To Trot / Fa-So-La4X-0149
RCA Victor Records
1955I Nearly Go Crazy // That's What I Like20-6256
1955What Am I Worth // That's the Way the Big Ball Bounces20-6353
1956Over and Over // If I Didn't Have You20-6444
1956Wham! Bam! Hot Ziggity Zam // Consolation Prize20-6515
1956I Can Hear You Cluckin' // Don't Do It Joe20-6621
1956Play the Music Louder // Caveman20-6707
Lode Records
1958The Bears Are Taking Over Yellowstone // All Penguins Aren't Catholic2001as 'Brother George Underbrush'
1958Green Garden Hose, Pt. 1 // Green Garden Hose, Pt. 22002as 'Brother George Underbrush'
1958Angel on a Cloud // Sandy2003as 'Johnny Valentine'
1958Child Bride // Paper Kite2004as 'Brother George Underbrush'
Crest Records
1960Y'all Be Good Now // Who Who's1071
Sims Records
1964If I Could Learn To Love You Less // Music City U.S.A.192
RCA Victor Records
1968I Are a Millionaire // I've Never Been Sober47-9719
Scorpion Records
1976Big Truck Stop in the Sky // Coffee Jim TruckerSC-0508

Albums/CDs

  • Truck Driving Man (Bear Family BCD 15762, 1993) all RCA material
  • Get Aboard My Wagon (B.A.C.M. CDD 191, 2007) Memo/Gilt-Edge/RCA material
  • Ramblin' Oakie (B.A.C.M. CDD 333, 2011) Fargo/Courtney/4 Star material

References

  1. Terry Fell, "Green Garden Hose," parts 1 and 2, performed by "Brother George Underbrush," Lode Records LO 2002, 45 rpm 7" single, date unknown; discogs.com image. Retrieved September 26, 2014.

Further reading

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